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Exposure to oxygen in the air and to dirt and oils from contact with skin.

US cents have been made of copper-plated zinc since 1982, and before that most of them were bronze containing 95% copper. In either case the copper combines with O2 to cause discoloration. If undisturbed the coins can develop a greenish patina like the Statue of Liberty, which is made of copper. In general pennies are used enough that the patina can't develop but they still darken in color.

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13y ago

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